Rope-cutter



(No Modell) u f B. HEA'I'GN 8v P. HOHMANN.'

ROPE CUTTER.

N0. 378.004. Patented Peb. 14,1888.

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VUNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE.

BENTON HEATON AND PHILIP HORMANN, OF HUMANSVILLE, MISSOURI.

, ROPE-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,004, dated February 14, 1888. f

Application filed October 14. 1887. Serial No. 252.398. (No model.) Y

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that We, BENTON HEATON and PHILIP HOHMANN, both of Humansville, Polk county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rope-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

Theobject of our invention is to provide a simple, strong, and efficient rope cutter that may readily be attached to any desired object.

Our inventionY consists, in combination with a rope-support'haviug a curved ropeseat, a guide-plate between which and the support a curved cutting-knife is hinged, and in providing the knife with a curved slot, through which extends a guide-bolt.V IThe subject-matter claimed is' pointed out at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of our improved device, and Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the cutting-blade and its guide.

The rope-supportA is preferably formed of cast-iron. It is provided with an arm, a, having screw-holes c', to facilitate in securing it to a rope-reel or any other desired object.' At

its upper end the support is widened, and in the top a curved rope seat, B, is formed. A strengthening-rib, C, is formed on one side of the casting, extending along the edge of the upper portion, under the rope-seat, and down between the screw-holes. This construction enables us to form the main casting of small thickness, while the rib C gives the requisite stiffness and strength.

The cutting-knife D is formedwith a long lever-arm, d, bent at its outer end to form a counterbalance, so that when the knife is lifted to the end of its upward movement it will be held open until forced down by the operator. The end of the arm may be rounded to form a handle, and may be provided with a guardring, d. The cutting-bladeE is formed of thin sheetsteel, having a knife-edge, e, and is secured to the lever-arm at its inner end by bolts or rivets e. The end of the lever is split to receive the blade, or it may be provided with ot-bolt e3, the bolt c, and a bolt, f.

a recess or socket therefor. A pivot-hole, e2, is formed in the blade near its outer end, through which extends a bolt, e3, secured also to the ropesupport.

bindicatesa curved slot concentric with the pivot-bolt c3. A bolt, c, extends through the slot, and is secured to the casting A. The curved slotb serves as a guide for the knife in its movements and limits its path.

A guide-plate, F, having a curved opening, f, that registers with therope-seat B in the casting A, is secured to the casting by the `piv The cutting-blade works between the casting and the guide F. This guide not only serves to keep the knifein a straight path, but also prevents it from shearing off and insures a clean sharp cut of the rope.

--Rope of any size may be cut in this improved device with rapidity andsmall exertion of power.

The blade is formed to cut the rope gradually. The lower part of thecutting-edge is. curved in the arc of a circle muchA larger than the arc of the side of the cutting-edge next the handle. These two arcs gradually merge into each other, so that as the knife descends the knife will cut through the rope by direct pressure against it and also by a transverse movement through it.

We claim as our inventionn The combination of the rope-support having a curved ropeseat therein, the guideplate secured to the support, and the curved cutting-knife hinged between the support and guide-plate and provided with a curved slot,

and a guide-bolt which extends through said slot. f y In testimony whereof we have hereunto sub- 8 5 scribed our names,

BENTON HEATON. PHILIP HOHMANN..

i Witnesses:

W. H. BRIDGES,v S. BHIG. 

